Breadtop @ Town Hall Station

This type of store is familiar to most asians but if you're new to it you should definitely try it out. Breadtop is a bakery chain store (kinda like Baker's Delight) that specialises in asian-style cakes and pastries. Unlike western-style bakeries, you serve yourself and pay before you leave.

How it works:

1. When you enter, collect a tray and a pair of tongs for picking up your bakery treats (Do not use your hands!)
2. Each tray has something different on offer - usually there is a little description label at the front of each tray telling you what it is and the price per pastry/bun/cake 
3. If you want something, slide open the cabinet and take what you want (best etiquette here is to decide which one you want and grab the one you want directly. Please don't pick one up then put it back)
4. Slide the cabinet closed
5. Repeat till you have all you want. There is no minimum or maximum at these places, so you can just get one to try if you like.
6. Take your tray and tongs to the counter and pay.
7. If you're after something more delicate like their slices of cake, or whole cakes, you can ask for it at the counter and they will package it for you. I recommend the cake that looks like a puppy dog (sounds weird, but it's really cute). I had one at my birthday and it was delish!

There are also items that are pre-packaged in take home bags, like little buns and bread loaves. Just pick up what you want and pay for it with your tray. Same goes for things in the self-serve fridge - Breadtop make icecream and cream-filled crepes that are quite yummy.

Check out more about Breadtop at their website. They are everywhere in Sydney now. It's almost as prolific as the frozen yogurt places sprouting up around Sydney.